The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-18

Just now is, can there be anything
anything il the movement presented to the peo-
pie last Saturday evening in Tomlinson Hallf
The question presents itself this way 70 some:
No harm can come of this movement. Ii any
thing is gained by a thorough discussion anc
sincere attempt to cheaper the supply OF gas for
the consumers of our city, then we are that much
ahead No harm as 1 say, can be done by this
discussion But has practicable theory yet
been advanced ]. for one, am inclined to be-
lieve that there has not been.
Judge Martindale, whatever his motives may
have been, made a ringing point on Saturday
night. We are not certain what it will cost to
bring natural gas city, for the reason that
we do not know how far we will
be compelled TO bring it. Able lawyers are of
the opinion that there is but one way in which
the city can take hold of this subject, and that
would be for the city to act as trust company;
and understand that some of our best lawyers
are very doubtful rs to the feasibility of such
action. The more we study the pian the less
practicability we can in the movement to
make every citizen of Indianapolis partner in
this scheme. If action should be taken by the
Council admitting any and all companies, on an
equal footing, we are morally certain as to what
the results would be. The Standard Oil Com
pany, some such concern, would own it all.
a pool would be formed, as has been the
with our ice companies, that we would be at
the mercy of the company, or companies, after
all.
Should the Standard Oil Company be pro-
hibited and one be formed Of our own citizens,
have we any assurance that anything would be
galnedf The gas company of this city is an
illustration upon this point What can be done?
We see and know but one way out of the diff
Guilty. Let take the experience of other cities.
Go slow. Wait until we find from what locality
we are to bring our gas and then we Will be able
to figure upon the cost. After that has been
done let the Council pass an ordinance fixing the
maximum price Of gas. Allow fair profit, for
no company is going to do this work without
profit. But some one will object and say that
it will only be matter of time until the com
pany that has this matter in charge will
control the Council aud such an ordinance will
be repealed and we will then be at the mercy of
the company On this point we must take
chances. 1t is almost certain that private enter
prise must bring our gas to the city. Then let
us use every precauton possible to delay the day
when that corporation will have the city at its
mercy, for there is no business things now
corporation.
There will be a better day when the people
will rise in their might all over the Union and
demand legislation that Will limit corporations.
That day is coming and is Fastening as fast
relentless and cruel combinations and corpora
tions can hasten it. For the present. must
simply do the best we can, for the Council will
take its time and pass ordinance that will
stand, limiting the price that the Standard Oil
Company or any other company may charge for
Gas brought to our city. It is the best
hope for Let the field be thrown open with
such limitation and let US have the gas and
hasten any usufruct that may be derived from
this boom. SOUTH SIDE.
GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal
The public will pardon an intrusion on its at
tention when say have, citizen, been
interested listener to all that has been said, and
an interested spectator in all that has been done
relative to the ma turagas supply for Indianap-
oils. For proper reasons I am not identified
with any organization looking to gas supply
for city, and am therefore untrammeled in
what may say, and first disclam any utilization
or sympathy with the ''Tge Montague, Mr..
n1a EvriK DIV DOra 0fh
visionary scheme, noted by the Journal on
Monday; but ! in sympathy with the
common herd'-I mean all the people
and am a believer in and advocate of the prin-
ciple of cooperation in all enterprises where it
can be practically applied.
All honor and credit is due to the men who
lave put up their money and given their time to
testing the question whether we have natural
gas That fact is now practically settled 1t is
near. if not directly under the city. The problem
to be settled is how to avail ourselves of its
at the smallest possible cost to each consumer
All agree 1t must be through some organization
and agency known to law No town meeting"
other irregular association, could, or should.
be intrusted with an interest so grave and far
reaching.
If the city municipal governments had the le-
gal authority to enter upon the enterprise on
behalf of all the people it would doubtless do
That being impossible, the next thing is the or
ganiZation of a corporation, with capital suffi-
cient TO prospect and obtain the gas, and put in
the plant to utilize it; the capital to be sub
scribed and paid IN on the basis of one years
stock issued therefor to be issued and held
by trustee. to bear per cent interest," and to
be paid out of service tariff of charges to be
fixed and when the stock is all thus paid
out the whole plant to be turned over
the city authorities a condition that the
tariff should never exceed cost Of maintenance
and renewals that long the supply
should last the cost of heat and light should be
assured at the minimum
The natural elements are the common prop
erty of all, and only the mechanical appliances
and the labor employed in their development
and utility entitled compensation For
once give the people chance If they fail, then
forever done with the howl about monopoles,
rings, ETC. Whatever is done, do at once.
j. NJ RIDENoUR-
THE DANGERS OF NOT TAPPING THE EARTH.
To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journal.
We see by the Church at Work of May s.
Presbyterian paper published in your city. that
Professor Swing the celebrated liberal theologian
of Chicago. has written paper on Natural Gas
and the Dangers of Tapping the Earth"
We propose to answer the by writing a
paper on Natural Gas and the Dangers of Not
Tapping the Earth" Tapping the earth is no
new thing it is as old as the creation of Adam,
if not older The earth has been tapped by vol
canoes ever since the dawn of history, and for
unnumbered cons before, for geologic investiea
ton shows that the tapping process was in full
vigor more numerous and active in prehistoric
times than now. Nature does her tapping a
grand scale, commensurate with all her charac-
teristics In fact. she does nothing by halves or
piecemeal The craters of volcanoes constitute
natures own great gas wells, from which are
elected not only natural gas, but ofttimes ashes,
scoriae. lava, sulphur, mud, stones and other
things.
Nature does her work differently from man, |
SO, for nature drills from below I'D
the surface, while man drills from the surface |
down. Nature works with irresistible power, |
forcing her escape pipe through the solid crust |
of the earth itself in order to relieve herself of
the surcharged condition of her internal regions,
produced by superabundance of gas. and in |
some instances steam. also generated below and |
held IN compression until the force of the accu-
mulated vapors becomes great that the rock |
laden crust of the earth, thick as it is must !
yield in order to permit their escape from {
forced imprisonment In the subterrene below.
How does Prof Swing know that tapping the
earth by means of our little gas wells. only from
four TO six inches in diameter would let all the